Aga Khan IV Photo Credit: AKDN.org

Proactive Ismaili Imam: His Highness the Aga Khan

Part - 2

History: a live broadcast of the past, a joy of the present, and a treasure for the

future. History has significant past knowledge, culture, and memories of ancestors

wrapped in its womb. The historical monuments, art, music, culture, language, food, and

traditional clothes educate people about who they are, where they are, and where they

belong in the particular era.

Furthermore, the deep roots of history help individuals to see the fruitful stems of

growth. The growth in the field of economics, science, architecture, education, and the

quality of life of people in this period of modernization. Therefore, destroying history

from the lives of the people would be the same as cutting the roots of a tree. No matter

how healthy species a tree may be from, it won’t be able to survive without its roots.

Thus, history builds a path that leads toward the future. Therefore, without the

presence of history, the growth of the future would be unknown. Hence, the proactive

Ismaili Imam, the Aga Khan, is actively taking every possible step to preserve history by

preserving the historical monuments and improving the quality of life of people within

the ambit. One of the best examples of the Aga Khan’s work is in Syria, a country known

for its Islamic history.

Syria and Islamic civilization go a long way back in history. As His Highness the

Aga Khan said, “Those of you who know the history of Syria, the history of cities such

as Aleppo, you will know how much they have contributed to the civilisations of Islam,

to the practices of Islam, to the search for truth not only within Muslim communities,

but with Jewish communities, Christian communities. And therefore, this country

carries with it into the future a remarkable history of which you should always be

proud” (Aga Khan IV, 2008, August 27). Syria plays a crucial role in shaping Islamic

history. Both the roots of Islamic dynasty and history of Ismailism are wrapped in the

womb of Syria.

Today, Al-Salamiyah has the largest Ismaili population in the Arab world, and it

is the location of the headquarters of the Syrian Ismaili Council. Salamiyah, which is also

known as “Mother of Cairo” is a city and a district located in the western Syria. This city

is well known for its deep connection with the Ismaili Muslims Imams and their Imamat.

From 6th-10th Ismaili Imams resided in Salamiyah, and from there they propagated their

dais and missionaries to preach the Ismaili faith to various regions.

Beloved Imams in Al-Salamiyah, Syria

Names of Imams Role of Salamiyah in Ismaili Imamat

5th Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq

(A. H. 114 – 148)

• Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq passed the Nur of Imamat by the rule of “Naas” to his son Hazart Isma’il, who became the 6th Imam of the Ismailis Muslims.

• To protect Imam Isma’il from the Abbasid Caliph, Al-

Mansur, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq sent Imam Isma’il to Syria.

6th Imam Isma’il

(A. H. 148 – 158)

• Imam Isma’il settled in Salamiyah, and from Salamiyah, he began to spread the philosophy and teachings of the Ismaili religion. Soon, the Ismaili religion began to prosper in Damascus, Syria, and Egypt.

• Imam Isma’il lived his life as the 6th Ismaili Imam in

Salamiyah till his wafat.

7th Imam Muhammad b. Isma’il

(A.H. 158 – 197)

• The 7th Imam, Muhammad b. Isma’il, succeeded his father Imam Isma’il.

• He also spent the last days of his Imamat in his father’s residential city, Salamiyah, till his wafat.

• After the wafat of the 7th Imam, the Imamat was passed to his

son Imam Wafi Ahmad.

8th Imam Wafi Ahmad

(A.H. 197 – 212)

• During his Imamat, Imam Wafi Ahmad resided in Samarra, concealing his identity to protect himself and his family from the enemies.

• Meanwhile, Imam Wafi Ahmad’s dais went to Salamiyah to find a place for Imam’s residence.

• Then, the Imam moved to Salamiyah with his family along

with his successor Hazart Taqi Muhammad.

• In Salamiyah, the Imam resided as a local merchant and spread the Ismaili religion.

• Thus, Imam Wafi Ahmad resided in Salamiyah till his wafat

and his “Kabra Mubarak” (blessed grave) is in Salamiyah.

9th Imam Taqi Muhammad

(A.H. 212 – 225)

• Imam Taqi Muhammad also stayed in Salamiyah and sent his dais to the other countries such as Yemen, Bahrain, Egypt, and Somalia. To spread the Ismaili beliefs, tradition, and cultural values of Ismailism.

• Imam Taqi Muhammad’s “Kabra Mubarak” (blessed grave) is

in Salamiyah.

10th Imam Razyidin Abdallah

(A.H. 225 - 268)

• Imam Razyidin Abdallah, took the responsibility of Ismaili mission at his young age, and travelled to Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Bharain.

• After his father’s wafat he became the 10th Imam and retuned to Salamiyah and continued his mission of preaching the Ismaili religion.

The Kabra Mubarak of Prince Aly Khan, father of His Highness the Aga Khan is in

Salamiyah.

What we know about Syria

Key Information About Syria:

• The full name of Syria is Syrian Arab Republic.

• It is located in Western Asia.

• Syria is bordered by: Iraq to the East, Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to

the North, and Jordan to the South.

• The capital city is Damascus, and the largest city is Aleppo.

• The religious population is comprised of Sunni Muslims, Christians, Alawites,

Druze, and Ismailis.

(Graphic Maps: Syria, n.d.)

After visiting Damascus in the year 1867, Mark Twain wrote: “To Damascus,

years are only moments, decades are only flitting trifles of time. She measures time not

by days and months and years, but by the empires she has seen rise and prosper and

crumble to ruin. She is a type of immortality” (GoodReads Inc, 2013).

Islamic Connection

• Syria became the part of Islamic empire by 640 AD, when it was annexed by

Khalid ibn al-Walid who was the leader of the Rashidun army.

• Later, the Umayyad dynasty came in the mid - 7th century and conquered Syria.

The Umayyad rulers declared Damascus as the capital of their empire, and they

divided Syria into 4 districts: Damascus, Hims, Palestine, and Jordan. Moreover,

during the Umayyad dynasty “the Islamic empire spread from Spain and Morocco

to India and parts of the central Asia, thus Syria prospered economically, being

the capital of the empire” (Syria History – Islamic Era, n.d). Furthermore, the

Umayyad leaders also constructed various mosques and palaces throughout Syria.

• Due to the corruption and ignorance of the Umayyad leaders, the dynasty was

overthrown by the Abbasid dynasty in 750. The Abbasid dynasty moved the

capital to Baghdad. During the Abbasid dynasty Arabic became the official

language replacing Greek and Aramaic. Further, the Tulunids from Islamic Egypt

conquered Syria from the Abbasids, which were then replaced by the Hamdanids.

• Then, came the Mongols in 1260. They came with the huge army and used

aggressive battle techniques to conquer Syria. Hence, they were successful in

conquering Syria, but their invasion severely destroyed the cities’ construction

and the irrigation work.

• The Mamluks, a military caste of the medieval Egypt, then defeated Mongols.

After the death of the Mamluk leader, the Turk named Qalawun soon defeated his

successor.

• However, the Mamluks once again won Syria back supporting Qalawun who were

attacked by the Mongols under the influence of Al-Ashquar.

• Further, as a regime does not stay in power forever, so the Mamluk regime ended

when they were defeated by Timur in 1400.

• Eventually, weakened Syria was taken by the Ottoman Empire, and remained

under the Ottoman Empire from 16th-20th century.

Needless to say all these battles led to major destructions of the various

monuments. The current Ismaili Imam, the Aga Khan, has continued to show his

distinctive interest in Syria. “My interest in working in Syria is to take the various lead

countries of the Ummah and say, let’s start, let’s move together, let’s revive our

cultures so that modernity is not only seen in the terminology of the west, but in the

intelligent use of our past” (Aga Khan IV, 2008).

In the year 1999, “the Syrian directorate of Antiquities asked the Aga Khan

Historic Cities Programme (AKHCP) to provide technical assistance for the conservation

and reuse of a number of historic citadel sites in the country” (akdn.org). Three historic

sites were selected for the restoration: The Citadel of Aleppo, Masyaf Citadel, and the

Castel of Salah ad-Din.

Motives Behind the Restoration of the Historic Sites

The entire notion behind these conservation projects was to restore the cultural

heritage, and utilize them as a springboard to enhance the economic condition and the

quality of life of the present generation and the generations ahead. As the Aga Khan said,

“These historic sites are potential economic and social dynamos. They are not frozen,

paralyzed historic assets. They are assets that can actually contribute to the quality of

life of the people who live in those contexts” (Aga Khan IV, 2008). Thus, these projects

not only conserve the past but also revitalize the present and invest in the future.

What we know about the Citadel of Aleppo

• Location: It is located in the old Aleppo city in northern Syria.

• Historic Significance and Rulers: Citadel of Aleppo is the oldest and the largest

castle in the world. It is one of the Islamic historic monuments, and it became the

part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1986. The castle was

conquered by various civilizations such as: Greeks, Byzantines, Ayyubids, and

Mamluks.

• Addition to the original physical structure over the centuries: Over the centuries

the rulers built additions to the physical structure of the castle such as mosques,

residential areas, towers, gates, and storage rooms. However, the majority of the

construction dates back to the Ayyubid era. The Ayyubid Dynasty was a Muslim

dynasty, which was founded by Saladin. Saladin was the first sultan of Egypt.

• Major destruction: With every invasion the physical structure of the Citadel got

ruined. However, the major destruction was caused to the citadel by the Mongol

invasion. Furthermore, the devastating earthquake, which resulted in the year

1822, also caused the major destructions to the original structure.

What we know about the Masyaf Citadel

• Location: The Masyaf citadel is located at Masyaf, a city in Syria.

• Historic Significance: The primary function of this historic site was to protect the

neighboring cities from the invaders. Therefore, the defensive physical structure

includes huge walls and towers surrounding the interior of the building.

• Rulers: It was originally constructed in the Byzantine period. However, this

historic citadel is known as Ismaili building because the significant construction

work was by carried out by the 12th century Ismaili leader Abu Sinan.

• Major destruction: The several phases of battles and reconstruction work over the

period of time had caused major destruction to the physical structure of the

citadel.

What we know about the Castle of Salah ad-Din

• Location: Castle of Salah ad-Din is also known as castle of Saladin, and it is

located in the southwest of Aleppo.

• Historic Significance and Rulers: In 975, Byzantine emperor conquered this

historic site, which was then invaded by the Crusaders. Thus, in the early 12th

century the Crusaders constructed strong defensive structures such as stonewalls,

high towers, and a ditch, which prevented invaders from entering into the castle.

• Addition to the original physical structure over the centuries: The Arab

additions to the castle were the mosques, courtyards, madrasa, and bathhouses.

• Major destruction In 1188 Salah ad-Din over took the castle. Since, the defensive

structure was very strong, Salah ad-Din had to use aggressive conquering tools

and strategies to conquer the fort. To cross the stonewalls built by Crusaders,

Salah ad-Din used a siege engine. Moreover, in the encounter the heavy stones of

110 lbs to 660 lbs were hurled at the castle resulting in significant damage to the

physical structure of the historic site.

The Benefits of the Conservation and the Restoration Projects

• Restorations of the historic sites attracted tourists, and hence generated tourist

income.

• Recovery of the traditional construction techniques by providing high-quality

skilled work training in the field of traditional masonry and construction work.

• Offering employment on the restoration sites to these skilled local individuals.

Furthermore, after receiving skilled training these individuals are ready to work

independently in an active market of architecture and conservation projects.

• Promoting the usage of local materials in the construction process in order to

generate income for the locals.

• Developing economic opportunities within the ambit of the historic sites. For

instance, establishment of the market near the citadel of Masyaf created jobs for

the locals, which increased the economic and the social welfare of the natives.

Moreover, the market also attracted tourist income, which ultimately boosted the

quality of life of the local communities.

Thus, there are various other factors that need to put into action in order to

improve the living condition of people such as easy access to financial support,

healthcare, and education. Therefore, in addition to the restoration of the monuments, the

Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) marked the milestone by signing the three

agreements with the Syrian government. These agreements covered the crucial areas:

microfinance, healthcare, and cultural tourism in Syria.

Outcomes of the Agreements

• The first agreement was the collaboration with the Syrian government in the field

of microfinance. The post-benefits of the agreement indicate, “ since 2003,

approximately 45,000 loans have been disbursed, amounting to nearly two billion

Syrian Pounds (US$ 40 million), generating and developing over 35,000 new and

existing business opportunities” (akdn.org). Furthermore, the First Microfinance

Institution (FMFI) of Syria is working along with the Aga Khan Agency for

Microfinance (AKAM) in improving the economic condition of the poverty-

stricken Syrian population.

• The next agreement was signed for “the further development of the health care

sector” (akdn.org). The Aga Khan University designed the motives behind this

agreement, which was to provide better health care facilities and support in the

field of nursing education.

• The third agreement was signed to strengthen the field of cultural tourism. This

agreement was signed between the Syrian Government and the Tourism

Promotion Services. It is an agency of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic

Development (AKFED). The post-benefits of this agreement include, the

restoration of three eighteenth century houses in Old Damascus: Beit Nizam, Beit

Sibai, and Beit Kuwatti. These houses were restored in the form of a 5-star hotel.

Approximately $ 20 million were invested in the construction and restoration of

this project. Furthermore, along with these three houses a local neighboring

school was also restored. Thus, these agreement produced better education,

employment opportunities for the natives, and locals were also provided skilled

training which gave them independence and confidence to work on their own in

the future.

Needless to say, the economic, cultural, social, and intellectual condition of the

people highly depends on the environment they reside in. Therefore, the improvement in

all these sectors could only be brought when the environment is subsidized with

employment and business opportunities. Therefore, the Aga Khan believes in conserving

historic cities and using them as a “trampoline” to improve the quality of life of the civil

society by making them independent earners.

As the Aga Khan said, “The historic city is, generally speaking, a concentration

of the ultra-poor. There are many factors that cause that. So if you impact a historic

city, you’re first of all impacting the quality of life of the ultra poor, then you’re

reviving a cultural asset, then you’re learning what has caused the degradation of the

environment and what you can do to stop that happening elsewhere. So there are many

lessons there” (Aga Khan IV, Aleppo, Syria).

Modernization is a platform for better life, and hence it should not be used to

“Occidentalize” the authenticity of one’s persona. Moreover, the true essence of

development lies in understanding the significance of one’s origin and identity.

Therefore, connecting with own cultural values would help mankind to understand their

role in the modern society.

Hence, with every project the proactive Ismaili Imam, Prince Karim Aga Khan, is

trying to bring a constructive change by broadening the horizon of opportunities by

“making intelligent use of the past.” Each project of His Highness is bringing a vision of

progress in every sphere of life such as: education, healthcare, culture, and economic and

social development.

Moreover, by restoring the cultural heritage and by providing opportunities for

better life to the human race, the Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is

functioning to build a strong belief for a pluralistic world.

Written by Noori Mamdani

Noori Mamdani is an ardent advocate of early childhood/special education.

References

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Daftary, F., & Hirji, Z. (2008). The Ismailis an illustrated history. Azimuth Editions in

association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies.

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http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sy.htm

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from http://www.nanowisdoms.org/nwblog/10302/

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UNESCO. (2010). United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization.

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